Home from Ethiopia

HOME

Norman and I returned home from Ethiopia with Mekelit on April 20th. We've been home two weeks now, and are busy getting Mekelit attached to us, acclimated to her new surroundings and "recalibrating" our family life. The last three weeks have been an incredible adventure. Ethiopia was fantastic and all that happened before, during and after our trip was amazing and even miraculous. Though I am finding myself short on time since our return, I wanted to write (finally!) to let everyone know that we did indeed get our Mekelit and are home safe, sound and together, at last.

MEETING

Mekelit came to us in the arms of her favorite nanny. She was a miniature version of the little girl I had envisioned her to be-- tiny limbs peeking out of billowing dress. She took one look at me as her nanny put her into my arms and started to cry. I hadn't thought about what I would say or do when I at last held her, but as she started to cry, I put my lips to her ear and began speaking to her very softly and quietly. As I spoke I carried her into a private room away from the other families uniting with their children. After a minute or so, Meka stopped crying and sat still, listening to me. After another minute or so, she turned and looked at me. And from that moment on, I was her mama.

Typically orphans will bond with one parent first, then after they've established trust with that parent, they are able to bond with the other parent and members of the family. Meka bonded to me first, which we expected, since she has never had a father. Norm was amazing both in Ethiopia and since our return, doing much of all the other work so I could take care of Mekelit. One of Norm's gift's is that he takes nothing personally, so he has remained good-natured and ever-so patient with Meka while she learns to have and to trust a daddy.

Mekelit took to Peter and Samuel very quickly and the boys have been wonderful with her. They adore her already and are such great big brothers! What a joy they are to watch. Peter said to me the other day that it is like she has always been a part of our family. I nodded and told him that our family feels complete now, doesn't it? Yes, he said. Yes.

LITTLE MISS PERSONALITY

What our little Ethiopian princess lacks in size, she makes up for in personality. Mekelit is very spirited and knows precisely what she does and does not like or want (look out for The Formidable Knitted Brow). She can be shy around new people but smiles and laughs often and easily. She was very nurturing to the younger children at her orphanage-- hovering over them like a minuscule mother hen. She loves eating, shoes and clothes (in that order), and can put away Injera-- Ethiopian bread-- like nobodies business. Most of all, she is incredibly brave and strong. I look at her and am amazed that she has gone through what she has and emerged with such stength of spirit intact. Norm and I had chosen a middle name for Mekelit, "Elefe," which we had read meant, "she who is great and surpasses everything" in Amharic. While we were in Ethiopia we learned that it doesn't literally mean that in Amharic, which, alas, made us lose interest in the name, but I can't help but think that the definition still fits her. She's really quite extraordinary.

GIVING THANKS

If I may end this blog on a financial note: When we began this adoption journey, we did so in faith, with only about a thousand dollars in an adoption fund and the belief that if God had really called us to adopt, if He really meant it when He said to care for the widows and the orphans, then the money to do so would somehow follow suit (of course that included some sweat equity on our part as well. I'm not suggesting waiting for cash to drop from the sky-- though that would have been nice!). Well I'm here to tell you that during the worst of economic times-- and we've been hit like everyone else-- the money did, in the end, come through. It was always at the 11th hour and not at all like I thought it would come, but it came through nonetheless. As of this week, our adoption is paid in full. This is a miracle in the truest sense of the word. I wish I could say I was full of faith about it throughout, but I was not. There were many, many days of barely hanging on to faith (D, your encouragement to me in those dark hours always saved the day). But in the end, God came through-- for us and for Mekelit and we are very, very thankful to Him.

Finally, to our dear family and dear friends who shared this journey with such love, generosity, prayer and a truly touching enthusiasm: Norman and I have felt your love for us and for Mekelit all along the way. You really did help carry us through.

Amesege'nallo' ('thank you' in Amharic).